Automatic firearm with recoiling barrel



1927. l 613,205 Jan 4 c. soNclNl r-:r AL

AUTOMATIC FIRERM WITH RECOILING' BARREL Filed April 27, 1925 Z-:n/v 8156125 C.50 U/O 1212/?) l/,/Se LLI) (E- Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES CESARE SONCINI AND VITTORIO CASTELLI, OF BRESCIA, ITALY.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM WITH RECOILING BARREL.

Application filed April 27, 1925. Serial No. 26,260, and in Italy May 3, 1924.

The present invention has reference generally to improvements in fire-arms and more particularly relates to the improved automatic fire-arm with the recoiling barrel.

There are known fire-arms wherein the barrel and the breech recoil together for a short extent overcoming the resistance of springs and after they are unlocked by the eect of a` revolving movement so that the breechbolt continues its recoil to effect the extraction of the empty cartridge whereupon the breechbolt is again brought forward by the said springs to introduce a fresh cartridge in place and is again locked together with the barrel.

In the known types the rotary movement eecting the locking and unlocking as set forth above is obtained by means ofthe breechbolt so that the use of a great number of small intricate members will be required in order to ensure the rotary movement and the locking of the various parts. Moreover the breech bolt itself is of complex and delicate structure and consequently subjected to frequent injuries.

The present invention has for its object an arrangement adapted to eliminate the aforesaid disadvantages and is substantially characterized by that the breechbolt accomplishes a rectilinear movement only while a .supplementary member effecting at suitable moments the locking of the breechbolt with the barrel accomplishes rotary movements controlled byi the breechbolt and by effect of screw shaped surfaces controlling the movement thereof.

Further the invention is characterized by that the said locking member presents at both orifices screw shaped edges engaging in screw shaped guides formed within the ribs projecting inwardly and integral with the fixed parts of the gun.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the arm portion in which the device for locking the barrel and block is arranged, and

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now, more particularly, to the accompanying drawings the barrel 1 is fitted with a head 13 adapted to be engaged in axial direction (without their relative rotation being prevented) by the collar 14 of a sleeve 15 rotatably lodged in the casing 9. and having on its inner surface projecting teeth 16 adapted to engage the corresponding teeth 17 provided on the obturator or release them and permit the obturator to move away from the barrel according to the angular position occupied by the sleeve 15. The forward and rear vend surfaces 1S respectively 19 of the sleeve 15 are helical surfaces matching the helical surfaces 2O and 9.1 on the guide rings 22 respectively 23, these rings being secured in the casing 2 by means of pins 24.

lVhen the -obturator starts recoiling, owingl to its teeth 17 being in engagement with the teeth 16 of the sleeve 15, the obturator pulls the sleeve axially and causes the barrel to move backwards, the barrel being thus maintained fast with the obturator. At the .same time the sleeve, due to the helical surfaces 18-20, revolves about its own axis till its teeth 16 disengage from the obturator teeth 17, the obturator being thus disconnected from the barrel and allowed to complete it-s recoil stroke.

At the end of the obturators forward stroke, its teeth 17 pass freely between the clearances of the sleeve teeth 16 and the fr-ont face of the obturator bears against the rear end of the barrel and gives it a forward thrust due to the action of the recuperati-on Spring. rIhe barrel drags the sleeve 15 forward along with itself owing to the barrel head 13 engaging the sleeve collar 14 and the sleeve is accordingly revolved in opposite direction to the previous one owing to the action of the helical surfaces 1921. In this manner the sleeve teeth 16 are again brought into engagement with the obturator teeth 17 and the obturator is again made fast with the barrel.

In order to secure that during the backward (recoil) and forward stroke of the obturator the clearances between the sleeve teeth 16 are maintained in line with the obturator teeth 17, a spring-loaded pin may be provided, the arrangement being such that the pin engages the sleeve with a springing engagement and releases it automatically when the sleeve is rotated in closing direction by the strong action of the recuperation spring. Of course the two execution forms described are given by Way of example only and may be modified according to the type and gauge of the tire arm concerned.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim l. An automatic fire-arm including in combination with a barrel and a breechbolt both adapted to accomplish partly common linear reciprocating movements5 a sleeve fitted on the rear end ot said barrel and turning on the latter, means allowing the said sleeve to engage or disengage the said breechbolt in accordance with the position assumed by the said sleeve, and means adapted to produce alternate turning of the said sleeve to bring the same alternately7 in disengagement and engagement with the breechbolt.

2. An automatic fire-arm including in combination Wit-l1 a barrel and a breechbolt both adapted to accomplish partly common linear reciprocating movements, of a sleeve engaging the rear end of said barrel and turning on the same, lugs projecting inwardly on the said sleeve, projections integral with the head of the said breeclibolt and cooperating with the lugs according to the position assumed by the said sleeve, and

means adapted to produce alternate turning of the said sleeve to bring the same alternately in disengagement and engagement with-the breechbolt.

3. An automatic lire-arm including in combination vvith a barrel and With a breechbolt both adapted to accomplish partly common linear reciprocating movements, of a sleeve engaging the rear end of said barrel and turning on the same, means allowing the said sleeve to engage or disengage the said breeclibolt according to the position assumed by said sleeve, screw-shaped projections integral with the sleeve and placed in correspondence of both orifices thereof and a member integral With the arm 'forming a shell embracing the said sleeve and provided with screw-shaped projections forming an inwardly projecting rib on said member and arranged in such a manner as to cooperate with the first mentioned screwshaped projections of the sleeve to produce alternate turning thereof in order to bring it alternately in disengagement or engagement with the breechbolt.

Signed at Milan Italy, this 14th day of April 1925.

CESARE SONCINI. VITTORIO CASTELLI. 

